Ukraine’s U-turn is only the latest setback for the EU’s enlargement ambitions

Written by

SHARE

Written by

Where does Europe end? Geographically, this is an easy question to answer. Geopolitically, not so much.

The European Union’s “Eastern Partnership” initiative was launched in 2009 to bring six post-Soviet countries—Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine—closer to the EU, primarily via trade agreements. The outcome, to be unveiled at a summit in Lithuania later this week, has been disappointing. In September Armenia broke off talks with the EU and announced that it would join the nascent Eurasian Customs Union, alongside Belarus, Kazakhstan and the group’s paymaster, Russia. Last week, Ukraine did the same—a much bigger blow to the EU’s ambitions, given Ukraine’s size, mineral wealth and strategic position. Now, only tiny Georgia and Moldova are expected to sign trade agreements with the EU this week.

Ukraine’s U-turn sparked huge protests in Kiev over the weekend. As many as 100,000 people took to the streets on Nov. 24 in favor of closer integration with the EU. Sporadic clashes between dwindling ranks of protestors and police are continuing; jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko announced a hunger strike yesterday (Nov. 25).

That threat, as well Russian support for Ukraine’s flailing economy, means staying close to Russia was probably a better short-term bet for Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych. He is no doubt also counting on Moscow’s support when he faces re-election in 2015.

Meanwhile, anti-EU political parties are growing in strength inside the union, aiming to dismantle its institutions from within. Brits are evenly split on how to vote in a promised referendum on EU membership. Now that Russia is pulling other potential members into its orbit, the EU could be about as likely to shrink in the next few years as it is to grow.